The Progressive Labour Party (PLP) will choose a Sandys North by-election candidate from among nine aspiring parliamentarians.

Campaign chair Dennis Lister confirmed that the deadline for potential candidates to put their names forward passed last night, and that the branch organisation now has to decide between College administrator Eugenie Simmons, former Housing Minister David Burch, Melvin Simmons, corporate trainer Dawn Simmons, Ellen-Kate Horton, Senator Michael Scott, Kenneth (Pop) Simmons, taxi driver Mark Bean, and contractor Rodney Smith.

"The submission of names is now closed for any additional candidates. The final count is nine candidates and now we will go through a process to determine the successful candidate," Mr. Lister said.

Sandys North, or district 36, which has about 60 members, will select their nominee through a voting process.

The branch's nomination will then have to be approved by the party's central committee.

"I think it's a healthy exercise for the party," Mr. Lister said. "It bodes well to see that there are that many who are prepared to put their name forward."

Whoever is selected will be contesting the seat against the United Bermuda Party's (UBP) Corin Smith.

The by-election, which was made necessary by the death of Eugene Cox, must be held by the end of the first week of March.

?Premier Alex Scott is expected to name the by-election date today.